COLONIE – Maureen was born in Plattsburgh, NY on April 20, 1942. She grew up with her siblings and parents, Warren Columbe and Catherine O'Connell Columbe, on their large dairy farm in nearby Peru, NY. As a youngster, Maureen could often be found in the family garden eating a whole ripened tomato, roughhousing with her younger brothers or venturing through the family's 180 acres. Maureen graduated a year early from high school and at the age of seventeen moved to Albany to attend Albany Business College. She retired as a Personnel Technician from Albany County Civil Service in 1997. Although she had great success in the business world, Maureen always felt her biggest accomplishment was being a mother. Maureen's pride was her daughter, Kathleen Mary, a nurse, and her son, Robert James XIV, a teacher. Her love of them is immeasurable. Maureen loved her time with her children, Kathy and Robb, and their friends. When her kids were young, Maureen was a nurturer, raising them to be respectful and kind. Every night there was a goodnight kiss or hug accompanied by an, "I love you." These kisses, hugs and "I love you's" continued until Maureen's last days. When her kids were older, Maureen continued instilling the values she put in place when they were young. Every day, there would be a family dinner on the table and through times of adversity there would be laughs to keep things in perspective. Maureen was always the first one to be able to laugh at herself. She raised her kids with love, hope, humor and trust. Her hope for a bright tomorrow was how she lived her life. In addition to her children, Maureen is survived by her longtime companion, Theodore Moisides, her sister Kathleen Pierce, her two brothers, Filmore Columbe and David Columbe, cousins – including Joan Hartung and Marlene Stevens, godchildren, nieces and nephews and wonderful friends.
Funeral services will be Tuesday morning at 8:15 at New Comer-Cannon Family Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd., Colonie (Rt. 155-south of Central Ave.) then to St. Clare's Church, Colonie at 9:00 a.m. where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Calling hours will be Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Memory's Garden, Colonie. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211 in memory of Maureen Anne Columbe Moore.